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On the Market: Fairfield house mixes world charm with new millennia

By Meg Barone| on April 19, 2017

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The formal living room enjoys paneled walls, a fireplace, hand-painted wall murals, and French doors to the covered veranda from which there are views of the gardens and Long Island Sound in the distance.

The formal living room enjoys paneled walls, a fireplace, hand-painted wall murals, and French doors to the covered veranda from which there are views of the gardens and Long Island Sound in the distance.

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The wrap-around covered and columned veranda offers views of the attractive grounds, in-ground swimming pool, and views of Long Island Sound.

The wrap-around covered and columned veranda offers views of the attractive grounds, in-ground swimming pool, and views of Long Island Sound.

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The 19th century house has 6,949 square feet of living space on four levels and includes a climate-controlled wine cellar and tasting room.

The 19th century house has 6,949 square feet of living space on four levels and includes a climate-controlled wine cellar and tasting room.

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The finished third floor of the main house has a large library that can double as a game room.

The finished third floor of the main house has a large library that can double as a game room.

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The 5.78-acre gated property has formal gardens including a rose garden with more than a thousand blooms that first open in early June.

The 5.78-acre gated property has formal gardens including a rose garden with more than a thousand blooms that first open in early June.

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Throughout the property there are a number of gardens, stone walls, and red brick and bluestone paths.

Throughout the property there are a number of gardens, stone walls, and red brick and bluestone paths.

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The distinctive stable was redesigned and converted into unsurpassed entertaining space by renowned local architect Cameron Clark. It features a natural wood-planked ceiling, great room and chefs kitchen.

The distinctive stable was redesigned and converted into unsurpassed entertaining space by renowned local architect Cameron Clark. It features a natural wood-planked ceiling, great room and chefs kitchen.

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The converted stable has a well-equipped chefs kitchen, which is ideal for entertaining.

The converted stable has a well-equipped chefs kitchen, which is ideal for entertaining.

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The converted stable has four sets of Dutch doors that open to a bluestone terrace.

The converted stable has four sets of Dutch doors that open to a bluestone terrace.

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There are six bedrooms in the main house and two more in the carriage house.

There are six bedrooms in the main house and two more in the carriage house.

On the Market: Fairfield house mixes world charm with new millennia

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FAIRFIELD — Old world charm meets new millennia amenities at the corner of Hillside Road and Old Academy Road in the heart of Greenfield Hill.

Sound View Meadows is a nearly six-acre estate at 770 Old Academy Road comprising a 15-room 19th century Greek revival colonial house, a stable converted into a sophisticated entertainment space, a two-bedroom carriage house, in-ground swimming pool, and stunning formal gardens. The estate can be purchased as a whole, or the main house, carriage house, pool and 3.63 acres can be purchased separately with a different address of 1386 Hillside Road.

Whether divided or as a whole, this compound exudes the elegance of life as it was lived in an earlier time period coupled with all the modern conveniences that one expects to have in this day and age. Visitors can get a sense of the beautiful house and grounds, and experience that more genteel time at an elegant Afternoon Tea Party on Friday, May 12, 1-3 pm, on the colonnaded veranda of the main house from which there are views of the Long Island Sound in the distance.

The tea party will be catered by Royal Tea Company as part of the annual Near & Far Aid Designer House Tour. Proceeds from the ticket sales of $40 per person will fund Near & Far Aid’s efforts to “target poverty and change lives.” The house itself is not one of the five on the tour, which requires a separate ticket. Information about this year’s house tour and tea, and tickets may be purchased by visiting the website at housetour@nearandfaraid.org.

Real Estate Listings

It’s appropriate that the estate hosts the Near & Far Aid tea party. At the turn of the 19th to the 20th century it’s rumored that the house was called the “Tea Time Tavern,” according to one of the listing agents. This house is known as a place for entertaining, and its amenities can support intimate gatherings and parties on a grand scale. It has a spacious gourmet kitchen in the main house, augmented by the converted stable and its culinary features. There is also a 100-case, temperature-controlled wine cellar and tasting room in the lower level, where there is also a full bath with a sauna, a changing room with lockers and access to the pool, and a garden or potting room.

The main house was built in 1834 and its glamor was preserved during subsequent expansions and updates, first by renowned Fairfield architect Cameron Clark in the early to mid-20th century, and more recently in the capable hands and creative mind of David Scott Parker, a multiple award-wining Southport architect, whose many honors include an award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The current owner made major changes and renovations to the house and grounds, all while preserving the historical integrity.

He made sure there was an abundance of natural light in each room and because he is an avid gardener he made sure the property was designed from the outside in. Each room does invite the outdoors inside but those inside are coaxed out by the beautiful landscaping including thousands of perennials, shrubbery, mature trees, and red brick and bluestone pathways. The landscaping was designed, installed and maintained to maximize the space and the views of Long Island Sound while also preserving a sense of privacy and intimacy throughout the grounds.

The heritage trees on the property were augmented with selective plantings and they are pruned to provide views of the historic Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, only steps from this estate. The church is the site of the annual Fairfield Dogwood Festival, which also begins on May 12 this year.

Also preserved and protected is the Agnes Clark formal garden adjacent to the pool. This property has many gardens including a wildflower meadow, woodland garden, herb garden, vegetable garden, a secret garden, and a rose garden with about a thousand blooms that first appear in early June. And, of course, it has dogwoods - as any property in the heart of Greenfield Hill must, including one original from the mass planting in the neighborhood back in the 1960s. The signature tree on the property is a beech in the backyard.

Inside, the welcoming marble foyer opens to reveal 6,949 square feet of generously sized rooms, detailed moldings and millwork, fluted columns, wide-board flooring, fireplaces with decorative mantels, hand-painted murals on walls in the living room, the gorgeous gallery and marble master bath. Many sets of tall French doors in the formal living and dining rooms access the covered, wrap-around veranda.

On the second floor every bath has a unique, ornate sink and faucets. The finished third floor has a large library with built-ins, a special music room, small office, full bath, and a bedroom.

The distinctive Cameron Clark-designed stable is equipped for unsurpassed entertaining and features a natural wood-planked ceiling, and a great room with four sets of Dutch doors that open to a bluestone terrace.

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There will be an Open House on Sunday (April 23), 1-4 pm.

For more information or to set up an appointment to see the house contact Linda Blackwell or Kelly Finn of Houlihan Lawrence; Blackwell at 203-362-8316 or lindablackwell@optonline.net, and Finn at 203-895-0961 or kelly.finn01@gmail.com.